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The Blue Room Theatre has been the creative hub of Western Australia’s independent theatre scene for nearly 30 years, centrally located at the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre.

If you haven’t been to our venue, you have probably heard of our shows. Helpmann-nominated The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer, Letters Home and Those Who Fall In Love Like Anchors Dropped Upon The Ocean Floor all began here, as did the careers of Matthew Lutton, Kate Mulvany, Tim Minchin, Claire Hooper, the members of The Last Great Hunt and many more.

We foster new talent and new work through a year round program presenting and developing the best new independent contemporary performance from Western Australia and further afield.

We present a Main Season of works between April – December, a massive FRINGE WORLD program called Summer Nights, which has won the Best Independent Program Award for seven years running, and Winter Nights, a two week mid-year festival of theatre research and development in late July.

Main season artists receive seed funding, free use of the venue, production and marketing support, and around 80% of the box office sales for their show. Summer Nights artists receive production and marketing support, generous box office splits, and we do all the liaising and registration with FRINGE WORLD so artists can concentrate on producing their work.

With a 29 year legacy of providing the resources, advocacy and space to make independent performance happen in Perth, we’d love for you to come and visit us and check out a show.

Staff

JULIAN HOBBA – Executive Director

Julian brings a range of theatre making and producing experience to the role of Executive Director. He has previously been Program Manager: Arts and Culture for the Centenary of Canberra – a yearlong city-of-culture style festival under the creative directorship of Robyn Archer AO – and Company Manager at Malthouse Theatre. Julian has maintained a playwriting practice throughout his career with work performed independently in Melbourne and in Canberra with Aspen Island Theatre Company, which he established in 2013.

HARRIET ROBERTS – Producer

A graduate of WAAPA’s Arts Management course as well as Arts (Communication Studies) at the University of Western Australia, Harriet worked as an independent producer and publicist prior to joining The Blue Room Theatre as Associate Producer in April 2016. Just over two years later, she stepped into the role of Producer and is thrilled to continue to work with The Blue Room Theatre in championing and supporting independent artists at both a local and national level.

ROGER MILLER – Venue and Operations Manager

After completing a year 12 certificate in Canberra in 1979 and attending the Victorian College of Arts in 1981, Roger worked as a stage manager for the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney for 2 years where his work included lighting and sound design and operation as well as stage management. In between operating sound for touring productions he worked as a lighting operator at the Sydney Opera House until 1985. After national tours as sound operator, he returned to the Sydney Opera House as a Sound operator and worked with companies like the Australian Opera, Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Roger moved to Perth in 1994. Since relocating to Perth he has worked as a lighting operator and designer, sound operator and designer, and stage manager at venues including His Majesty’s Theatre, Playhouse, Concert Hall, Subiaco Theatre Centre, Regal Theatre, Pica, Rechabites’ Hall and for companies such as Black Swan, Perth Theatre Company, Yirri Yaakin, Tura New Music Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Barking Gecko, Awesome Festival and Skadada. Roger has also taken tours to Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne as well as to Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Shanghai (China).

RYAN SANDILANDS – Marketing and Communications Manager

After graduating from Edith Cowan University with a Bachelor of Communications, Ryan went on to work in a number of marketing and communications roles across the arts sector. He has previously worked for Perth Concert Hall, The Bird and as Perth editor for retired publication The Thousands. Ryan joined The Blue Room Theatre in August 2017.

SAMANTHA NERIDA – Associate Producer

Samantha graduated from WAAPA’s Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2015, and has since worked with The Blue Room Theatre as a producer, director, and performer. Samantha is a pioneering member of SimLab @ Murdoch University, for which they are a digital puppeteer and Simulation Specialist. Samantha is also a founding member of Static Drive Co, alongside Timothy Green and Haydon Wilson. They recently worked as The Blue Room Theatre’s Marketing Assistant during Summer Nights 2018, before joining the team full time in May 2018.

SALLY MARTIN – Office and Front of House Manager

Sally studied classics and languages at the University of Western Australia, became an Associate of the Trinity College of London and gained her Performer’s Shield in dance before going on to do the theatre course at WAAPA. After graduating, Sally worked extensively as an actor and wine promoter and formed the co-operative Actors Waiting and the all female, smoking, drinking and tap dancing group Veuve Click-O. Sally finally got a proper job at Boffins Bookshop in 2000 but was enticed away by Jansis O’Hanlon to join the Blue Room team in 2007 where she lives happily ever after. Sally is a wine baron and a Scrabble master. True story.

ZAL KANGA-PARABIA – Project Coordinator

Zal is an artist with a passion for community engagement, diversity, science communication and storytelling. He was born in Sydney and moved to India at a young age, later to Perth where he has been back and forth since. He graduated with a Bachelor of Art and Physics at Edith Cowan University. Some previous works include, Walk With Me – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre 2018, Topographs – The Blue Room Summer Nights 2017, Perth International Arts Festival – The Midnight Run 16 Tone Piano and Spectrogram, Ru (//) Cercle Flaming Locomotive 2017 (Martin Sims – Best New Work Nominated), Waste Less WAAPA 2nd Year Dance Production 2016, Queen Leah Riptide 2016 and Red Tree Riptide 2015. He was the Creative Coordinator for the KickstART Festival 2018 and was a finalist for Western Australian of the Year 2018 for his work with young people.

KAREN CONNOLLY – Accounts

Karen has been working as a freelance bookkeeper and administrative assistant since 2000. Karen is an arts graduate from UWA and a qualified secondary school teacher. As well as maintaining The Blue Room Theatre’s accounts, Karen is a freelance proofreader and also writes film reviews on The Boomtown Rap.

Following a career as a professional dancer overseas and in Australia, Shane’s arts management career has included positions within government and the arts sector including General Manager roles with Deckchair Theatre (1987-89), West Australian Ballet (1992-96) and most recently Black Swan State Theatre Company (2009-14). From 2000-09, he worked at the WA Department of Culture and the Arts in a number of senior executive roles and on secondment as the Minister for Culture and the Arts’ Policy Advisor. In 2014, Shane re-established his arts management consultancy. He is also the Secretary of the WA Chamber of Arts and Culture.

Philippa is manager of Performing Arts Touring at Country Arts WA having joined the organisation in 2007. She is responsible for national and state touring and tour funding programs, the strategic direction of the touring program, as well as for sourcing funding and reporting to funding bodies. Prior to returning to study and achieving a Bachelor of Arts (Performance Studies) at Curtin University in WA, Philippa worked extensively in corporate administration.

Tanya has worked in finance at various firms for over 20 years while completing a Bachelor of Business (double major in Accounting and Management) at Edith Cowan University. She has held board positions with various other not-for-profit organizations including the Finance Committee of The Centre for Cerebral Palsy and Duncraig Senior High School, and sat on the Perth Theatre Company board for six years.Tanya’s insight into financial management and dealing with government comes from 12 years with Marketforce, a leading WA advertising agency, and having recently joined Volunteer Task Force, a government funded community organization assisting the frail, aged and disabled.

Vanessa Rauland is a lecturer and research coordinator at Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute. She recently completed her PhD, which focused on mainstreaming low carbon urban development. Her areas of research include Decarbonising Cities, Low Carbon & Regenerative Urban Development, Climate Policy, Low Carbon Schools and Green Prisons. Dr Rauland is also the co-founder of SimplyCarbon, which helps organisations to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their operational efficiency, while saving them money. Together with a colleague, Vanessa assisted South Fremantle Senior High School to become the first certified Carbon Neutral school in Australia.

KATT OSBORNEKey Skills + Expertise – Arts Industry / Arts Management

Katt is a director, creative producer and theatre maker. She has been a vibrant part of the WA independent arts scene since 2008 and received the 2016 WA Young Achiever of the Year (Arts) in recognition of her contributions. Katt has been associated with The Blue Room Theatre for over ten years as an artist (producer, director, stage manager, lighting designer) and staff member. She worked front of house and behind the bar for three years, and – most proudly – as ‘Friday Sally’. She is proud to be a board member and is passionate about securing a bright future for WA independent artists.

Izzy McDonald is an emerging writer, director, performer, unionist and Co-Artistic Director of the award winning company Rorschach Beast. She wrote and performed in the Martin Sims Award winning Bus Boy (2017), The Black Swan EWG play Dig (2017 and her piece Dive was produced by ATYP and published by Currency Press. Girl in the Wood (2016) was the first show Izzy directed and Rorschach Beast took home Best Emerging Artist and Melbourne Fringe Ready to Tour Award. She has performed in Let me finish (2018) Tamagotchi Reset (2017), TANK (2016), Fish Out Of Water (2014) and Fire (2013). She is excited when she can see the heart of an idea, and creating a show with that beat.

Emma-Jane is a former journalist now media and PR advisor, currently working for Anglicare WA. EJ specialises in working with not-for-profit organisations to help grow their brand. She has previously advised the likes of the Chamber of Arts & Culture WA, RSPCA and St John Ambulance. Emma-Jane started out in radio, including a five year stint at MIX 94.5 and 92.9. During this time EJ also tinkered in PR by doing promotions for friends’ theatre productions both in Perth (including at The Blue Room) and Edinburgh. Since being elected in 2018, Emma-Jane has brought a new perspective to the Board, with her insight and knowledge of communications and marketing.

Arts Consultant Liesbeth Goedhart is a senior professional in the area of development, philanthropy and community engagement and a broker of cross-sector partnerships. She has been involved for 18 years in the arts and culture sector in Western Australia, including five years (2000-2005) as Director Marketing and Development with the Perth International Arts Festival and as Manager WA for Artsupport (now Creative Partnerships Australia), a role which she pioneered for the Australia Council for the Arts. Since 2010, through her firm Goedhart Consulting, Liesbeth has been providing advice and mentorship to arts and not-for-profit organisations in the areas of fundraising and strategic planning.